Students take oath to protect heritage sites of Manipur at Kangla in Imphal on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, Sept. 26: The Manipur chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage today launched its programme, My city my history, by organising a student trip to the historical Kangla Fort.

Around 50 students and teachers of Mangolnganbi Foundation School, Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur district, were taken around the Kangla Fort by the officials of the trust’s Manipur chapter this afternoon as part of the trip called Imphal city heritage walk.

The state unit has taken up the project in collaboration with Fox History and Entertainment channel to educate children about their cultural heritage.

Students of Classes VI to IX could join such trips to historical sites in the state.

“The main idea of the programme is to encourage schoolchildren to learn to understand and take care of their heritage, develop observational and creative explanation skills and impart first hand knowledge of the cultural heritage,” R.K. Ranjan Singh, convener of the trust’s state unit, said.

As part of the programme, a story-writing competition on the theme of less known historical heritage is being held. Five winners will get to appear in short films based on their stories.

Ranjan Singh said more such trips for students would be organised to the cultural heritage sites of the state in the near future. He said the next date and venue were yet to be finalised.

During the trip, Singh and other experts explained to the students the history of the Kangla Fort and the significance of the existing structures.

After the trip inside the fort, Ranjan Singh administered an oath to the students and teachers taking part in the trip to conserve and protect the natural and cultural heritage of the state.

“I had learnt about Kangla Fort from my parents and books, but I did not have the chance to visit the place. I am very happy today to be here and will tell my friends about this place,” Angom Parbina, a Class VII student, said.